Table of Contents

Judges Comments

This was a tough decision, as all three were well written and had their own strengths. I found myself going back and forth between them as I read and reread, trying to make up my mind.

Honorable Mention

“Annihilation” by Robin Abess is my pick for Honorable Mention. Robin managed to fit a lot of story into those 500 words, and really painted a complete picture. Because of her detailed writing and strong use of imagery I got a good sense of the world she imagined, and of the character of Lira. I like how the story begins and ends with the red button, and how Lira, who didn’t study her history, seems bent on repeating the mistakes of the past.

All honorable mentions will automatically be entered in the drawing for a paperback copy of Song Stories: Volume I after it is released next month.

Winner

Handwriting AnalysisBy Jeffrey Hollar

Ultimately, I decided that “Handwriting Analysis” by Jeffery Hollar was my favorite.

I like the idea that some problems can’t be solved, especially when the prompt is about the end of humanity. While many science fiction writers suggest we will wipe ourselves out in some sort of global war, Jeffery’s story actually has the world working together to thwart the impending doom. Rather than the world ending abruptly in some sort cataclysmic event, humanity wastes away slowly, as the Earth and her resources finally give out. These are very creative ideas about the end of mankind, and they were executed perfectly. What really sold the story for me was the strong voice and wry sense of humor in Jeffery’s writing. And that I would probably be laughing right alongside the narrator. I always seem to find humor in the most inappropriate situations. Overall, “Handwriting Analysis” was an enjoyable read, very well done.

“Statistical analysis concludes the continued presence of species: Homo sapiens within the confines of ecosystem specified constitutes a null profit proposition. Corrective measure indicated by analysis is removal of species: Homo sapiens from the confines of ecosystem specified with maximum expediency by most decisive means available.”

While most of those present in the control room reacted with stunned silence or confused ignorance, my undeniable response was unrestrained laughter. We’d all just been given a crash course reminder of the old adage to not ask questions you didn’t really want the answers to.

I suppose, at its core, the project had seemed not only viable but ingenious. It was no longer solely within the purview of a small clique of alarmist tree-huggers and end-of-days crackpots, but common knowledge that Mother Earth was screwed.

With a population floating around 12 billion souls, the elitists and intellectuals were learning a lesson the most uneducated Third-World matriarch already knew. No matter how well she could stretch what she had, there would come a point when children wanted for more than Mama had to give.

We’d exploited every natural resource to its breaking point. We’d engineered and synthesized every artificial element within our knowledge base. We’d modified and enhanced every square foot of the planetary surface to support habitation. Bottom line? It wasn’t enough.

Project Phoenix was seen as humanity’s best and last potential solution. Over the course of the next five years, the best and brightest bent our efforts to the most ambitious technological endeavor in all of recorded history. That solution involved inter-linking a dozen Cray Titan supercomputers resulting in a hybrid…creation capable of maximum energy efficiency while providing an exponential increase in capabilities.

Simultaneously with this hardware triumph, the programmers, climatologists, biologists and all the other –ologists busied themselves providing all of the software input Phoenix would require to evaluate the crisis and postulate a resolution. Twenty-seven brilliant minds became irretrievably unhinged in the deal, but every omelet requires broken eggs, we rationalized.

Our beleaguered world watched and waited once Phoenix was brought online. The sheer number of variables to be factored in was expressed only by theoretical mathematics. To the common man, the talking heads merely expressed it as being a really complex question with no easy answer. Well, it turns out the anchorpeople were pretty wrong. While the question was unaccountably difficult, the answer should have been obvious to us all.

So, while my colleagues, co-workers and fellow condemned folk wrapped their monkey brains around Phoenix’s response, I was already laughing at the absurdity of our situation. We had asked our Techo-God to answer our prayers and answer It had. Oh, it would take Phoenix a week or so to complete the calculations and finish up the machinery required but that was no longer of any consequence really.

The true import of what Phoenix had arrived at came down to something as simple as this: the handwriting was on the wall and the words that hand had written were “Goodbye Humanity”.

Like Titan A.E. in 2000, a number of movies are coming out this year which explore the idea of life after earth. Tom Cruise will Star in Oblivion. Father and son, Will and Jaden Smith will play a movie titled After Earth.What might life be like on the dawn of the Apocalypse, what type of life-forms might still exist on the earth that remains? Use this week's prompt to explore your ideas of the next step in evolution or the types of people/creatures who might endure global devastation.

Guest Judge: Anthony Box

This week's judge is Anthony Box. Anthony Box is 23 years old, and lives in Bakersfield, California. He has a BA in English from Cal State University Bakersfield, currently working towards getting a teaching credential, and hopes to teach high school English. Anthony is also an assistant wrestling coach at his old high school. He was a student athlete in college, wrestling for CSUB (a NCAA Division I program). His senior year he placed 4th in the PAC 12 conference tournament.

Anthony's "Painted Black", features a young man "gifted" with abilities far beyond ordinary human beings who is drafted into an army of "talented" individuals with a frightening agenda.

The Prompt

[The human race has become obsolete]

*The words inside the bracket may be altered as long as the meaning still reflects the extinction or the impending doom of mankind as we know it.*

The Rules

The story must start from the prompt. This means the prompt must be the first words in the story.

No more than 500 words (not including the prompt). No less than 100 words.

Any genre (in fact an unexpected genre will get you more brownie points.)

Entries must be submitted by Tuesday Noon EST0

If your story would be rated R or NC-17 in a movie, please post a note to that effect at the beginning of your entry.

The winner of each week's competition will win a kindle copy of "Song Stories: Volume I"

The winner and runner-ups will be entered into a drawing to win a beautiful paperback edition of song stories

Please join me in offering a huge thanks to Guest Judge: L. T. Dalin who took the time to critique each story this week.

Judges Comments

Untitled by Mark Ethridge@LurchMunster I love this story. It reminds me of when I was little, and we’d play boys against girls up on the hills. I’ve been so tuned to songs lately that for me, this resembles the feel of Kid Rock’s “All Summer long” – which is one of my favorites. Very well done, Mr. Munster, this is a well-balanced piece of memory lane. Untitled by Rebekah Postupak@postupak I read this three times – the first time. I couldn’t help it. There is a sensuality to it that’s captivating and unusually erotic in its clean lines. Color me impressed.Untitled by Nellie @solimond I really liked this, though at first I didn’t quite understand the ending. I realized it was my own fault for reading it too fast - expecting something obvious. I think this would make a terrific longer piece! Well done! Academic Abandon by Jeffrey Hollar @klingorengi The intensity of this story is remarkably well written, and I think that anyone who’s ever been to a rave – without admitting to such – would recognize the feel. I like the idea of a stale anthropologist ending up in such a place and I think you described his “transformation,” if one can call it that, very nicely.Untitled by Alissa @lissajean7 A mystical story indeed. I would have loved to know what exactly was coming, and what she didn’t know – but all in all, I really liked it. You did a good job of setting up anticipation and ending with a cliffhanger. A Tall Tale by Lisa McCourt Hollar @jezri1 This is a delightful twist to the story of Jack and the beanstalk! I liked the fact that they seemed like a “normal” couple, with a family until she goes to check on her sheep. One thing, which confused me, was that she didn’t like the fact that he was a giant-killer and rather preferred him a herder, yet she had no problems seeing herself as a giant killer. I guess one never knows what one likes until one is faced with it! Great job with this interesting twist. Untitled by Cara Michaels @caramichaels The much heard of and talked about Circe. I like the intensity and sudden death-feel to the story. As always you have a marvelous way with words. It does feel as if I were thrown into the middle of a page of a very exciting book – but this would definitely entice me to read more. Great work!

Honorable Mention

All honorable mentions will automatically be entered in the drawing for a paperback copy of Song Stories: Volume I after it is released next month.

Jeffrey Hollar @klingorengi: While the days of frantic gyrating is behind me, this did remind me of a few epic nights. I think you did an exceptional job painting a picture - and you really do deserve an Honorable, honorable mention.

Winner

Untitled by Rebekah Postupak (@postupak)With every judge there is an element of personal preference. Really, it's the main element. I loved this story because it was so female. Full of hear-me-roar, yet a handful of batting eyelashes and red-lipstick. It spoke to that woman within who yearns to wear pretty dresses and spend four hours curling her hair. Great work!

“You are even more breathtaking than the last time I saw you.” His voice thundered across the hall. “What wizardry is at your command, that you could achieve such a feat in so short a time?”

“No wizardry, lord, save that which is natural to a woman.” (Hunch your shoulders. Stoop. Tremble a little.)

Now he was behind me, his breath warm on my neck. His voice was thick. “But you are no natural woman.”

(Pause. But only briefly.) “And you, my lord, are no natural man.”

“No.” One hand brushed across my cheek, a quick flash, like lightning. “No, I am not. So—so you will have me? Surely you did not journey this great distance to reject me again.”

“It depends. You know my condition.”

The room temperature dropped, and I shuddered at the sudden chill. “Marriage,” he said.

“Yes.”

“But you know—you are lovely, oh, you are so lovely! Your skin is so soft—but surely you know I am not the marrying sort. Would your woman’s heart not be satisfied with jewels? No. Foolish thought; you are too clever for jewels. A kingdom, perhaps? Or several. All within your grip.”

A thunderclap. “Enough! Enough. This once, and this once only, I shall be the one to yield. You wish to marry the king of the gods? Then so you shall. My hand, my heart, are yours, Hera, you who have driven me to the brink of madness. Now take pity on me, and say you are mine.”

“I have your word? Then yes: I, O Zeus, am yours, to do with as you will.”

And as the sky around us exploded into storm, I lifted my eyes and smiled.

The pulsing lights, the throbbing bass, a room full of pheromones and sweat even without alcohol, immersion in the ancient rite of dancing is enough to put you off balance.

As we enter into our first full week with Song Story: Volume 1 from Song Story Press, we are neck deep in the excitement. The pursuit of an audience, of great music and more great stories brings with it a heady emotion reminiscent of child hood games.

Does this week's prompt remind you of innocence or terror or romance or a little of each?

Guest Judge: L.T. Dalin

This week is Motivation Monday's very own L.T. Dalin.

LT has been writing all her life, in some form or the other, but it wasn't until University when she studied Broadcast Journalism that her eyes were opened. Since then she's spent the past years trying to find her voice, her style and comfort zone, and she's having a blast with it. She's also a housewife, with a loving husband and two very demanding budgies. When she's not attending to them, she's working on a Fantasy Trilogy for YA called The Finder.

In L.T.'s "Death's Apprentice", a tallyman of the fatal sort takes an interest in the fate of two star-crossed lovers to amusing effect.

In her second story, "Primal" urges move a blood-sucking club promoter to consider throwing it all away for the thrill of the hunt.

The Prompt

[Watch out]; here [I] come!*words and phrases in brackets can be replaced creatively (eg. "Ready or not; here we come!)

The Rules

The story must start from the prompt. This means the prompt must be the first words in the story.

No more than 500 words (not including the prompt). No less than 100 words.

Any genre (in fact an unexpected genre will get you more brownie points.)

Entries must be submitted by Tuesday Noon EST0

If your story would be rated R or NC-17 in a movie, please post a note to that effect at the beginning of your entry.

The winner of each week's competition will win a kindle copy of "Song Stories: Volume I"

The winner and runner-ups will be entered into a drawing to win a beautiful paperback edition of song stories

Comments from your Host

Thank you to everyone who made submitted this week. I enjoyed every piece and I’m sure our readers did as well. A number of your scenes hinted at longer stories which I’m excited to see when they are complete. I would especially like to thank our guest judge Vic Kerry for stopping by to serve as an impartial judge. Now on to the results.

Honorable Mentions

The following entries earned an honorable mention from out judge and will automatically be entered in the drawing for a paperback copy of Song Stories: Volume I after it is released next month. Megan Clark for The Tester and Alissa for her strange take on two classic stories The Wizard of Oz and Little Red Riding Hood.

Winner

The winner of this week’s contest and a kindle copy of Song Stories:Volume 1 is Lupus Anthropos. Here’s what Judge Vic Kerry had to say:Lupus Anthropos [wins] for his hilarious romp through 1980's cheesy pop hits. So here it is: Untitled by Lupus Anthropos "Toto." "I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore." "That's what I said: 'Toto.' Can't you tell?" "What's to tell? We've been wandering around here all day and it's all starting to look the same to me." "Seriously? Haven't you been paying attention?" "Seriously. Look: you've got ten years on me. Sure, I've HEARD a lot of this before, but I have never SEEN it before. I can't always make the connections." "So Kansas, Chicago, Boston - it just doesn't really matter to you?" "Not really - just as long as it's America." "No. America's not at this concert. Today, it's just Kansas, Chicago, Boston and Toto. Toto is the group that's playing now. They're singing 'Africa.'" "Africa! Then we're definitely NOT in Kansas anymore!"

There is an iconic moment in American cinema when Dorothy declares to her little dog Toto that everything has radically changed. With the recent release of the movie Oz, and the release of Song Stories: Volume I this coming week, this seems a fitting place to start back into Motivation Mondays.Use this week's prompt to explore ideas of displacement: the fear and wonder at being transported to a place you've never seen before. You might be transported by imagination, a dream, illness, madness, death, a supernatural event or some freak of nature. But when or where would you go and how would the difference manifest itself?

Guest Judge: Vic Kerry

Vic Kerry lives in Alabama with his wife, cat, and six dogs. He is the author of the novel The Children of Lot and an avid Elton John Fan.In "Scarecrow" Vic runs with a metaphorical and very dark interpretation of Elton John's classic song. Kenneth Cavendish survives a tornado but his road back home is no so smoothly paved.Read Scarecrow and more in "Song Stories" from Song Story Press. Available on Amazon for Kindle this week.Visit his website to find out more about Vic Kerry: www.vickerry.wordpress.com

The Prompt

[Toto], I have a feeling we're not [in Kansas] anymore!

*words and phrases in brackets can be replaced creatively (eg. "Grog, I have a feeling we're not in the Stone Age anymore!)

The Rules

The story must start from the prompt. This means the prompt must be the first words in the story.

No more than 500 words (not including the prompt). No less than 100 words.

Any genre (in fact an unexpected genre will get you more brownie points.)

Entries must be submitted by Tuesday Noon EST0

If your story would be rated R or NC-17 in a movie, please post a note to that effect at the beginning of your entry.

The winner of each week's competition will win a kindle copy of "Song Stories: Volume I"

The winner and runner-ups will be entered into a drawing to win a beautiful paperback edition of song stories

The first volume of the Song Stories anthology is finished and to celebrate, we're bringing Motivation Monday back with a vengeance!

Each week will highlight a different author. The weekly prompt will be related in some way to the story. The highlighted judge will select a winning entry and two to three honorable mentions. The winner will receive a free kindle copy of the anthology. The winner and honorable mentions will all be added to a grand prize drawing. Three lucky winners will receive a paperback copy of the anthology.

The rules remain the same: 200-500 words in any genre as long as your first words are those in the prompt.

3/11/2013 is our first day back so mark your calendars, tell your friends and then come show off your skills. Motivation Monday is back!